The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Percival gestured reassuringly for Vivienne to walk in.

Griffin didn’t give a damn, shot Audrey a glowering look, and shoved open the door to let Vivienne in, “Grandpa’s in your hands now, Vivienne.”

Vivienne stumbled a bit from the push. Thankfully, her footing was solid, or she might have ended up face-first on the floor.

Talk about unexpected. No wonder she caught Leopold’s eye. Both of them had a way of taking you by surprise.

…

Meanwhile, Kala was holed up at home.

When Darren got back from wrapping up some work outside, he walked in to find her chilling and watching TV, “Kala, you alright? All that online drama sorted out?”

Kala popped a potato chip into her mouth, “Not even close.”

“So, you’re just… chilling?”

How could she be so laid-back?

Ronald came out of the kitchen with a fruit bowl in his hands. “Don’t mind her. She’s been like this since she got back from the studio. Vivienne called earlier. The agency’s taking over the whole mess, told her to take a few days off. Kala’s over the moon.”

“Well, she’s happy, at least.”

Darren was exasperated. “The agency’s swamped. Ramona came prepared; high-def videos are all over the net, and the trolls are practically crashing the platforms with their venom.”

As he spoke, he couldn’t even understand. “I’m baffled, really. What’s your beef with Ramona that she’d set up such a scheme to target you?”

“She’s not after me.” Kala finally tore her gaze away from the screen. “She’s trying to drive a wedge between me and Vivienne, though I can’t fathom her endgame.”

“But she’s a lousy actress,” Kala spread her hands dismissively, “I’m not falling for such a cheap trick.”

I thought you were gonna

hadn’t witnessed the confrontation. but he had seen more than enough of the videos online. “This

People in the biz first thought she

and tidy: parents were just regular company

about her. Her sudden rise to fame in the cutthroat entertainment industry was baffling, not just to others but even to Darren, who didn’t

like our adversary isn’t afraid

for a while now.

organization?” Kala was

to talk to Ronald, they kept

it and was largely in the dark about what Vivienne

even Darren knew, her curiosity was piqued. “Vivienne’s been out of touch for ages. Are you guys into something

loss for words. Revealing

irritation for his loose lips, he switched off the TV and ushered Kala to stand, “It’s nothing. What

…

Meanwhile, at CK Penitentiary.

a desk, and even a coffee table set with coffee paraphernalia, indistinguishable from those outside, with the serene scent of coffee pervading the small space. Not a single guard

from the notorious GTO organization, who should have been resting in an unmarked grave, was sitting calmly at the coffee table. His wrists and ankles bore electronic

when he was alive, his face always wearing a faint, serene smile. He held

they’d see his eyes weren’t focused at all. They were cold, empty,

of the androids developed by Ronald, capable

had escaped destruction solely due to Leopold’s morbid

might draw out the remnants of

one from GTO would risk their life for

his fanciful thinking, saying he was too old to be

object. After all, it was just an android following commands. And CK wasn’t really of any strategic value; it was just bait in the

android that had survived a series of unfortunate events remained there, with the surveillance team having lost all hope and

seemed like there was a